IT is good to see the smaller stables giving it a go at the highest level and hopes were high among neutrals that Amy Murphy’s Kalashnikov, runner-up in the Supreme Novices’ at Cheltenham last term, would go one better in the Arkle this time.

That dream is still alive, but he was beaten at 4/6 in the Grade 2 32Red.com Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase, going down by just over a length to Paul Nicholls’ Dynamite Dollars and Harry Cobden.